Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress
[Translation.
Señor Romero to Mr. Seward
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of the United States government, the accompanying documents, containing official reports of recent events in the eastern military division of the Mexican republic.
I call your special attention to two important victories of General Diaz over the French and Austrians on the 3d and 18th of October last, at Miahuatlan and Carbonera, in the State of Oaxaca.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., & c., & c.
[Untitled]
Esteemed Friend: Five days ago I entered Tepeji and routed its small garrison, which fled, leaving me some prisoners and arms. I staid there two days and then came to this place. The Austro-French traitors did not venture to follow me, but continued to fortify themselves in Tepeaca. Acatlan is cut off and I will soon attack it. I do not expect to get anything more than arms in these towns. Yesterday morning, at daylight, I sent a cavalry company to the neighboring towns to collect the arms distributed by the French, and it got back to-day with a considerable number of muskets and a quantity of ammunition. I have sent out another expedition to-day for the same purpose.
Don Rafael J. Garcia is now acting governor of the State of Puebla, and I have appointed General Cuellar commander of the districts of the valley north of Puebla and Tlaxcala. General Mendez is in command of the Sierra del Puebla, General Ramos is chief of the western districts, and General Leiva is operating near Cuernavaca, while Figueroa is threatening Tehuacan.
* * * * * * *
Your attentive and obedient servant,
Mr. Matias Romero.
Republican army–Eastern line–General-in-Chief.
Citizen Minister: After my fight with the Hungarians at Nochistlan, on the 23d of September, as you know, I came to this place by Teozacualco and Peras. As soon as my movement was known at Oaxaca, Oronoz was sent out alter me, with 1,100 men, and came in sight at half-past three in the afternoon of the 3d instant. As the enemy marched rapidly, I sallied out with my escort to find a place for the infantry on the Nogales hills, west of the town, while General Vicente Ramos held the enemy at bay with his cavalry. Then, with [Page 391] the infantry of Colonel Manuel Gonzales to support me, I located my artillery as follows: The line of battle extended from north to south; the Morelos battalion of 100 men, under Juan J. Cano, was on the right; the mountain sharpshooters, under Felipe Cruz, with 230 men, came next: and the Patria battalion of 96 men, under Colonel José Segura y Guzman, closed the left. On the right was the Chiantla company of 80 men; the battalion of loyal countrymen came next, consisting of 130 men, under José G. Carbo. The line thus established, General Ramos passed through the town and left thirty armed citizens, under Captain Apolinar Garcia, to protect it.
To prevent the cavalry from being molested I ordered forty mountain riflemen and the inhabitants to hide in the fields adjoining the town. The cavalry passed on the right to the rear of our line, while the enemy kept on till he got in front of our line on the hills of Yolveo and the Matadero; there, forming into three columns, he opened the combat with artillery. Our riflemen bravely sustained the first onset of the enemy, who, thus stopped, profited by the unevenness of the ground to continue the fight as he retreated.
Seeing the great number of the enemy, I enforced my line with the rest of the Chiantla company and twenty of the Tlapa battalion, under Colonel Juan Espinosa Gorostiza. The fight then became general along the line, and, as our ammunition was giving out, I ordered an assault on the enemy’s position, and gained a complete victory. Determined upon this I ordered the riflemen across the river, and ranged the rest of my forces into columns; General Ramos, with the Tepeji squadron, marched to the rear of Oronoz, so that the enemy was completely surrounded. Then I gave the signal of advance, and placed myself at the head of a column formed of the battalion of Fieles and the Pueblo lancers. Colonel Espinosa soon joined me, and we advanced together. Colonel Gonzalez and Juan de la Luz Enriquez marched to attack the right flank. Our troops overcame all obstacles, and advanced straight in front of the enemy; took his artillery, turned it against him, and gained a complete but hard-earned victory. Ramos took the rear with his cavalry, and executed such a rapid movement that the enemy could not escape.
The scattered enemy was pursued for three leagues, throwing away his arms; the quantity of which you will perceive by the annexed report, as well as the killed, wounded, and prisoners on both sides, with the munitions, baggage, and pack-mules.
I am pleased to inform you that the chiefs, officers, and men behaved with signal gallantry on the occasion, and I can make no special commendations.
The traitor officers taken prisoners were shot, in accordance with the law of the 25th of January, 1862. Their names and rank are given in the subjoined list. Some of them were the same that went over to the enemy at the last siege of Oaxaca.
I spent the 4th and 5th in this place, reorganizing my forces, enlisting the prisoners taken, and arming the rest of my men with the arms that were captured. I also formed a hospital, and then reviewed my entire force. I start for Oaxaca to-day; it is already in possession of Colonel Felix Diaz, and the enemy is confined to Santo Domingo, Carmen, and Cerro de la Soledad.
I have sent for General Luis P. Figueroa and Colonel Lopez Orozco, with their respective commands.
The Minister of War and Marine, At Chihuahua, (or wherever he may be.)
[Untitled]
Esteemed Comrade: Under date of the 4th instant I wrote you, giving you an account of the splended victory obtained by the force under my command ever the expedition coming to attack me at Miahuatlan, under the orders of Oronoz. but knowing that my letter was miscarried, I direct you this, giving you an extract of said letter, in which you will see in brief, with all its details.
About three o’clock of the afternoon of the 3d instant the enemy appeared, advancing rapidly upon this place. I decided to go out immediately and meet him, and leaving General Ramos with the cavalry to detain him a few moments, I placed the infantry quickly on some rising ground that appeared to me advantageous, and soon the enemy opened fire on us. The column of the enemy was composed of 1.200 men, of three arms, of which three hundred were cavalry, and two mountain howziters. The sharp fire of the enemy was answered with spirit by our advance sharpshooters, and near sunset, noting that the enemy did not make a general attack, and finding myself nearly without munitions, I concluded to attack him, for which purpose I organized my columns and descended from my positions upon the enemy’s lines. On crossing the river that separated our positions, the enemy’s camp fell into disorder, and on charging them his battalions commenced to run, (having [Page 392] formed in some few groups, making a slight resistance,) followed by our cavalry. They were fast falling into our power, being killed and wounded on the field of battle. All the arms, two pieces of artillery, munitions, say fifty mule loads, and various other effects of war; also, more than four hundred prisoners of war. On the field about eighty killed. Of the French not one escaped. The greater part were killed, and among them their commander, Testard.
The moral effect is greater than the positive triumph. As a consequence, my brother, who was near the capital, (Oaxaca,) occupied it immediately with some force from the hills, and the enemy, filled with panic, made but feeble resistance, shutting themselves in their fortifications of the Cerro, Santa Domingo, and Carmen. After securing the field of battle and reorganizing my forces, that were considerably increased, I marched on the city to direct the siege. Figueroa has to come here with his forces, and I expect momentarily Lopez Orosco, with troops from Costa Chica.
The siege is well organized, and the enemy know well that they cannot receive assistance. I have my headquarters at this point, which is very convenient for the operations.
General Alejandro Garcia, Tlacotalpam.
National army–Headquarters of the military division of the east.
Citizen Minister: After the battle of Miahuatlan, on the 3d instant, about which an official report has been sent to your department, I marched to Oaxaca, which was besieged by Colonel Felix Diaz, took active measures to perfect the siege and shut up the garrison, and just as I was about assaulting it I heard that a column of 1,500 men, of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was coming to aid the besieged garrison. I at once left Oaxaca, and came without delay to meet the column. To-day at noon I met the enemy at “La Carbonera.” The battle began at 1 p. m. with great tenacity and determination on both sides. It is 7 o’clock p. m., and we are at Las Minas, having followed the enemy for three leagues, and captured 396 Austrian, Polish, and Hungarian prisoners, among whom are seven officers, four mountain rifled guns, over 600 carbines, and great abundance of munitions. I have had some very dear losses.
I have no time to lose, as I must prevent the escape of the enemy which was at Oaxaca with very good artillery and great abundance of arms, ammunition, and clothing. I will send you afterward a detailed account of this important victory.
Please congratulate the citizen President for it.
Citizen Minister of War, Chihuahua.